The maritime domain is unforgiving; salt-laden air, unpredictable motion and complex space constraints create unique challenges for weapon mounts. Yet ISTEC Services Ltd has quietly become the supplier of choice for crew-served weapon integration solutions across naval fleets worldwide. Here are 5 things you might not know about their maritime weapon mount solutions.
Designed for the Sea, Proven on the Fleet
ISTEC mounts aren’t adapted for naval use, they’re designed and built for it, for example, they have key moving parts arranged to be easily inspected and maintained. ISTEC maritime mounts are manufactured with marine-grade materials and corrosion-resistant finishes to ensure they operate reliably on everything from submarines to offshore raiding craft. Whether on the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class carriers or fast patrol vessels, ISTEC’s hardware has been operationally proven, tested and trusted in one of the most demanding of environments.
360° Firepower with Built-In Crew Protection
ISTEC’s ring mounts, used on hovercraft and landing craft, allow a single operator full 360-degree traverse without strain. Modular baseplates support ballistic shield systems from STANAG 4569 Level 1 to 4, offering crucial protection in close-quarters battle. As required by the customer, add-ons like hatches, ammunition holders and spare barrel brackets can easily be integrated and are all engineered for simplicity of use, survivability and tactical flexibility.
Bespoke, Not Compromised
Whether it’s integrating into a submarine sail, on a hovercraft or rigid raider, ISTEC excels in tailoring mounts to the user and platform’s needs. Their engineers regularly collaborate with customers across all domains, adapting “off-the-shelf” solutions or designing bespoke systems from scratch. This ensures that every mount fits the mission, platform and crew.
Minimal Training, Maximum Commonality
From softmounts to swing arms, ISTEC’s systems are intuitive and share a modular design ethos. This minimises the training burden across ship classes and roles. Crews moving between vessels can expect similar layouts and operating principles, reducing transition time and maximising readiness during high-tempo deployments. This also brings the logistic advantage of having a full range of common systems and parts that are all NATO codified across all three services and internationally.
Decades of Naval Innovation
With over 30 different weapon mount systems in service, many NATO codified, ISTEC isn’t standing still. Recent innovations include multi-panel ballistic shield, magnetically ranged gun mounts for Mine detecting craft and a suite of mounts for commando raiding craft; all developed to meet evolving threats and user demands. As one of the UK’s most experienced suppliers of naval weapon mounting solutions, ISTEC continues to deliver innovation where it matters most: on deck, under pressure.